Wrath of the Titans (2012) Movie Review

Wrath of the Titans (2012) IMDB

Wrath of the Titans 2012 movie poster

How do you feel about watching a big budget adventure fantasy movie that did over $300M in worldwide box office ? What if it was also the sequel to Clash of the Titans which did almost $500M ? Lets see how this big budget sequel, Wrath of the Titans stacks up. We get the return of Liam Neeson as Zeus and Ralph Fiennes as Hades from Clash, but this story focuses on the main character Perseus, played by Sam Worthington.

Tens years after the close of our first film, the gods have a problem because mankind has stopped worshipping the gods like they had in the past and they are losing their power as a result. Part of that power they gain is used to hold together the walls of the underworld prison Tartarus. Eventually, as the power wains, we have a large prison break and monsters (titans) are released on the world. Zeus is betrayed and imprisoned in the Underworld. Now we have some action taking place, with Perseus needing to defeat a series of monsters. We get fights with some fun mythical features like a Chimera and a Cyclopes (see the video thumbnail blow for a glimpse).

The story eventually becomes a fantasy quest to defeat the “final boss” (Kronos) and save Zeus from the Underworld. Perseus needs to make his way through a shifting labyrinth in Tartarus and eventually encounters the mythical Minotaur. The story unfolds in a typical big budget fashion. The monsters are good and the special effects are also. I didn’t expect much from this film and that is what it delivered.

I would say 6/10. Worth seeing if you like this kind of film. Unfortunately this film did not do well enough at the box office to greenlight the last part of the trilogy, Revenge of the Titans.

Check out the trailer:

Cinderella (1994) Movie Review

Cinderella (1994) IMDB

Cinderella 1994 movie poster

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and this telling of the classic fairy tale is a short (48 minutes), animated version that manages to fit everything in. Cinderella is one of those stories that has been done dozens of times, maybe more - my quick search on IMDB came up with 25+ movie adaptions through the years. What I never remember from the telling is the hedge maze scene you find in this version. It happens when the clock strikes midnight on Cinderella at the ball. She uses the maze to help escape the prince losing her glass slipper in the maze. Overall this adaption is fine. It looks like 90’s animation and I appreciate that they did not draw it out into a full length movie needlessly.

I give it a 6/10.

For my kids maze movie recommendations: The 7 Maze and Labyrinth Movies That Kids Will Love

Check out the trailer:

Thir13een Ghosts (2001) Movie Review

Thir13een Ghosts (2001) IMDB

Thir13en Ghosts (2001) movie poster

Let’s start this review with the premise of the movie - Your rich uncle dies and he leaves you his house. Who wouldn’t be excited to see your new mansion !! Oh, by the way it has glass walls on the inside. That is a bit weird. Hmmm. Glass walls sound a bit like a mirror maze, and as the story unfolds the walls shift in the house, making it an actual maze for the occupants to move through. Did I mention the house has been sealed and they are trapped inside? I didn’t. Oh, well they are trapped inside with 12 ghosts who can only be seen by wearing special glasses. So, if 12 ghosts are chasing them around a glass walled mazelike house why is the movie called Thir13een ghosts ? And that is the story. Can the group escape the locked house and what do the ghosts want ?

The good of the movie is an interesting story concept and an unfolding mystery. The bad is the cartoonlike visuals of the 12 ghosts. I would prefer a more menacing group than one that kids could watch (with exceptions for The Jackal and the Juggernaut which are both excellent baddies). Despite that, this film is still rated R for violence and gore, and a bit more.

This is actually remake of the 1960 film 13 Ghosts by William Castle and starring Charles Herbert. That version had much different special effects. I think I prefer the 1960 version which can be found for free streaming typically.

There was a lot of potential in the modern version, but it didn’t deliver. The reviews were poor for it when it was released and I have to agree. I give it a 5/10.

Check out the trailer:

Iteration 1 (2016) Movie Review

Today we dive into another maze-ish related short film from 2016, Iteration 1, directed by Jesse Lupini.

Iteration 1 (2016) (IMDB)

Iteration 1 (2016) movie poster

Here is the premise of the short film Iteration 1 : A woman (played by Katharine Isabelle who you might know from Ginger Snaps) wakes up in a bed in the middle of a well-lit white room with black grids on the walls. She has 60 seconds to, well, after 60 seconds she collapses and everything resets. Her goal, although never stated is to find a way out of the place she is in (which is about as specific as I can get because it isn’t really clear except this place is maze-like). Each time she awakens a voice declares the Iteration # she is on. This feels like a time travel/groundhog day movie where our character needs to learn from their mistakes to move forward in the time loop. And it happens after just 60 seconds in this Iteration so things are sped up.

The film is weird with little dialogue but actually fun to watch. You’ll find yourself talking to the woman and giving her suggestions based on what you might do in this situation, like, hey, maybe try this (or that). Definitely worth a viewing ! I give it a 7/10 and suggest you invest the 14 minutes you will need to watch this film.

Bonus points to the designer of the poster who used a labyrinth for the “O” in Iteration but made it off center so it looks something like a thumb print. Is this a clue ? Here is a close-up of the design in higher resolution.

Iteration O labyrinth

The best part about short films is you can often watch them for free on YouTube !! Check it out: